Big weekend for Jordan. We cleared out the office, painted it blue and we moved him in yesterday into his new room in time for nap time. He seems to really love it and hasn’t missed a beat sleeping:

before painting

after painting

smiles

video of him checking it out

Other than that, he’s been spending a lot of time “mowing the lawn”

Getting tall

complaining when his hands get even the slightest bit dirty

Being a good student for puppet shows

Playing at my gym (actually this is one of the few times a captured him being active there)

trampoline

zip line

having two drinks at once, and saying cheers (which he does a lot now)

Trying to see the other side of the camera while we take his picture

And having fun hanging out with his cousin Zakai and family

joe cool

More smiles

More good stuff to share from summer birthday season. Here are two video messages from Jordan to Sylvie and then to her mom Michelle. The best part is watching him trying to blow the candles at the end, and then wanting to IMMEDIATELY see himself in the videos.

Jordan turns 2 tomorrow. Amazing how true all of the cliches are. Time sure flies when you’re having fun. The fact that Jordan has a birthday means that all of his friends do too. We’ve been enjoying the party circuit this last month and have several more coming.

First pony ride:

Farm animals!

PIZZA AND CAKE!

We signed up for My Gym on Saturday mornings so I can start taking him.

HAIRCUT TIME!

Beach time!

Still smiling:

Still hanging with the girls:

Singing even when he’s too tired:

Napping on vacation in a big bed

And then, Mommy and Daddy take a break… Beautiful anniversary vacation on the coast at Terranea: http://www.terranea.com/

I think I have more pictures from that trip, but they are in a different camera… Stay tuned.

We’ve stayed pretty consistent. No more trucks and cars around our house. The few times we’ve given them back at home, it’s been another major tantrum. He still gets to play with them almost anywhere he goes (friends, school, etc), but at home we’ve been trying to encourage other interests. Right now those interests are pushing his shopping cart or buggy in circles around the house and watching stop lights or “waiting for the green light”

going in the swing

climbing into the treehouse above the swingset

hanging out with his cousins, like Jonah

eating

eating ice cream

doesn’t he look big!?

And eating Salsa. he skips the chips and just dives into the salsa dish:

And Jamba Juice

He still loves trucks in any form when he sees them:

And we went for a much needed relaxing trip to Santa Barbara:

And brought him to the zoo, which he loved.

He found a place to run up and down the ramps, which is one of his favorite things to do

and at the end of it all he was pooped

This week he gets to sleep at Safta’s while mommy and daddy go to celebrate our 3rd anniversary!!!!

Jordan loves having an audience. He’s practiced twinkle twinkle so many times, he actually hits most of the notes. Here he is just belting it out at a breakfast buffet in Santa Barbara

And here he is at home fine tuning his “Tomorrow” rendition, while accompanying himself on piano.

Sometimes all we can say about Jordan is “will you just look at that face.”

What a perfect day. It began by receiving a beautiful gift from Tammy and Jordan. A blown up version of this photograph, which I didn’t even know existed:

Then we went to Will Rogers State Park for a picnic with the Chammou/Camu/Gordon crew where the weather and food were also perfect.

Jordan ran around and around and around

and played

and kissed his cousin Ari, who reciprocated

And then we relaxed back at home

I spent most of the day just feeling lucky to have such a loving family both in L.A. and Chicago.

We tried to get in before the summer rush, but I think it was the first day of summer rush. A bit crowded, so lines weren’t so fun, but Jordan did well on all of the rides.

The tram ride to the park and the merry-go-round were two of his favorites. Although it’s hard to see that from his face here

He also loved to look at the clock outside at the It’s a Small World ride. Whether he enjoyed It’s a Small World itself is up for debate. You be the judge, here we are entering the first tunnel.

But meeting Mickey was definitely the highlight. Jordan went right in to try to hug or kiss him but Mickey’s nose was sort of in his way.

And then real biggest best highlight was meeting up with Michelle, Jim and Sylvie, and we watched Jordan’s and Sylvie’s crush bloom

Hugs

and kisses

The best part of this week is that Jordan has been telling us he loves us all on his own, several times. Just out of the blue he tells us and then comes to give us hugs and kisses. What could be better?

We met up with Tali and Shira and families at Marina Park a couple of weeks ago. Despite Jordan stepping in dog poop, which ended up on his pants we had a beautiful day. Luckily a pair of Ari’s pants fit (at least his waist).

I caught this video on a recent outing to the Grove. They put speakers in the flower pots so it sounds like there’s music coming out of the flowers. Jordan loved it! But also kept saying it was “too loud!”

We also got to celebrate cousin Zakai’s first birthday at Avi and Jan’s. Eytan and Reva got him a Pinata.

And last weekend we had another great night at the Cashmans. Jordan and Sylvie play so nicely together. They have a cute little crush on each other

But as you can see, sometimes his car/truck obsession gets in the way of having a good time and talking to people.

So we tried a little experiment and removed all cars and trucks from our house after he went to sleep one night. The next morning when he asked for them we told him there were no cars or trucks today but there would be other fun stuff to do. SO far after 4 days he’s been a model child. He’s been so sweet and left his car tantrums behind. I’m sure the cars/trucks will come back out, but for now we are enjoying other fun things like our new backyard wading pool

And as usual, we always have fun with Jordan at the dinner table:

Making this kind of silly face:

eating ice cream:

and eating (spicy) tacos

Tomorrow I’m taking the day off to take Jordan to DISNEYLAND for the first time. Hopefully some fun, smiling photos with Mickey in my next post.

Jordan’s love for singing is constant and growing. On some of his more familiar songs, he hits most of the notes and says most of the words clearly. And then sometimes, even though can sing the songs well, he sings them in a rhythmic staccato style.

His current playlist:

Twinkle twinkle (good old standby)
Row your boat
Tomorrow (from Annie)
I Knew you were Trouble
Wheels on the Bus
Old MacDonald
Yellow Submarine (his new fave)
Good Day sunshine
Rona (Israeli song)

I’m probably forgetting some.

The other day he woke us up at 5:30 am and sang this song list as a medley for over an hour at the top of his lungs.

Sometimes he sings in his sleep i think.

Here he is singing in the bath, and then playing his “all the bubbles” game.

When we play music, Jordan DEMANDS certain songs, and complains when songs end if we don’t put them on repeat. He yells “hear it” if the song ends or isn’t loud enough.

Here he is complaining that Yellow Submarine ended.

Happy kid:

Happy parents at one of the recent weddings we attended:

Jordan is 22 months old!
We are planning his 2nd birthday party already and he looks more like a little boy every day. Time definitely flies.